Rubber tread.



BATEBTEB BEBE. 1, 190B.

I W. E. HERBST.

RUBBER TREAB.

APPLICATION FILED NGV.8,1901.

Silitrti PATENT @iglijliif WENDELL HERBST, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

RUBBER TREAD.

to provide a cushioned tread and to prevent' slipping, and particularly to certain improvements on the rubber heel shown in my United States Letters-Patent, No. 658,441, dated September 25, 1900.

' The object of the present invention is to provide an elastic tread which obviates certam defects incident to my prior patented structure and which is simple, cheap and durable in construction and of maximum effe' cieney in use.

The invention consists of a rubber tread embodying certain novel features of construction and combination of arts, as willbe hereinafter more fully described and par ticularly pointed out in the appended claims. 1n the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved heel; Fig. 2 1s abottom plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section through the heel; and Fig. 4 is a cross section.

In the construction shown in my prior i patent, before referred to, the heel is pron vided with a metallic plate embedded therein and of horse-shoe form, the plate being substantially of the same width throughout its entire extent. rl`his construction find to be somewhat objectionable where the person usingr the heel runs the heel down on one side, as the metallic plate becomes my present structure this objectionpisii-bviatcd b v providing the metallic plate on op- Posite sides of the center of its curved portion withrecesses, which allow the heel to wear down without exposing the plate, thus increasing the life of the heel as well as obviatincr the objections referred to. Aln my Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November S, 1901.

Ea'tented Sept. l, '1908.

serial No. 31,602.

priorlpatent I also show the heel formed next the face intended for union with the boot or shoe with the peripheral extendingl lip or iinI which irojccts beyond the side of the heel, said fin beingr adapted tobear .against the heel at the edge and to provide a close union. This iin or lip, in practice, must be flattened out to the proper extent by the shoe maker when the heel is applied, which renders it somewhat troublesome in application. To obviate this objection. provide -the heel in the present structure with an outwardly flaring surface which, when the heel is applied to the heel of the boot or shoe, exerts a wedging action against the end side of the boot or-shoe heel and forms a close union therewith, thus preventing the entrance of dust, dirt, show, etc. in my Present structurel also make certain other improvements in the construction of the heel, all as will be hereinafter specifically described and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring new more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the rubening plate or strip 2 of metal', the said strip 2 corresponding in form to the outline of the heel, and provided with nail holes 3 registertread surface of the heell portion of this plate is providedon the' oppo site sides of its center withnotches or recesses 5 which come upon opposite sides of the center of the rear portion of the heel. These notches or recesses are for the purpose of permitting the heel to wear down at the rear on either side throi'ifrhoutthe thickness of the heel without exposing the plate. By this means the wearer is not compelled to detach and throw away the heel when the plate becomes exposed, and as the plate remains concealed it cannot be broken or form a surfacek against which obstructions may catch.

The upper surface of the heel is formed with a truste-conical countersink or recess (i similar to that shown in my aforesaid patent and has, adjacent to its sides and rear edge, an upwardly and outwardly inclined or ilared portion '7, said flared portion having a gradual inclination, sulleient enough to ber heel which has embedded therein a sti'- j ing with corresponding openings 4 in the The rear curved cause., when the heel is applied to the heel of the entrance of dust, dirt and moisture. this construction no prior Hattening out of the partis required, as 1n my aforesaid patent, before applying the heel to the boot or "shoe, while an equally advantageousresult is secured. For the use of new boots and shoes, this outwardly inclined and flaring out portion, or rim 7, may be made, preferably, to extend and project out beyond the outer walls of the body of the rubber heel so as to ermit the trimming-off even with the leat er-heel portion'without trimming the body of the rubber heel. The heel is `ilso provided in its treadsurface with a recess 8 of a {ruste-conical form, which, in connection with the'upper recess 6, lightens the heel so that a greater amount of material may be employed at the parts most subject to wear without making the heel unduly heavy. This recess also is adapted to prevent the heel from assuming a/convex form as it Wears, thus preventing slipping; and it also prevents clingingI of snow to the heel., as the peculiar form of the walls of the recess causes the snow to be shed and pressed down upon the ground, instead of yJeing retained. Furthermore, the recess by being of frusto-v conical form, leaves a larger tread surface than any other form of recess, and this surface gradually increases instead of diminish- -ing as the heel wears, insuring an effective resilier/ft action at all times. I may also utilize this recess as a receptacle for an antisipping material 9, which renders the heel more ellicient for use in the country and in walking over rough surfaces. This antisli )ping fabric may consist of canvas or any other material suitable for'the purpose.

.In the drawings l have shown embedded with the metallic plate, a layer 1() of canvas or other like material, as it 1s more adhesive to rubber than to metal, therefore more binding to prevent the rubber heel from spreading over the leather portion and exerts a smooth union 'throughout the whole life of the rubber heel.l Upright stri s, of canvas v or other suitable fabric, are em )edded in the heel in the rear portion thereof, disposed longitudinally therein, radially with -reference to each other and angularly with reference to the stiifening plate and extend'from. points within to points without the stiifening plate in planes which intersect vthe recessed portions thereof and extend nearly to the rear side of the heel. The lower edges of these fabric strips are exposed at the bpttom of the heel and .also at the rear side and bot tom of the recess 8 thereim This longitudinal' 4disposition of the fabric strips causes senseo them to wear evenly from end to end no matter how unevenly the rubber heel may Wear and causes them to frictionally engage the pavement with maximum effect to increase their utility in preventing slipping, and their radial dis osition on opposite sides of the longitudine center of the heel disposes them in the line of the greatest wear whether the heel be "run down on the inner or outer side. Furthermore, the angular disposition of the fabric strips with reference to the stiifening plate in the planes which intersect the recessed )ortions thereof and their rear extensions which extend to the rear of the said recessed portions, causes said fabric strips to reduce the wear of the heel at the parts thereof which are opposite the recessed weakened portions of the stiil'ening plate From the foregoing description, taken ifi connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of o eration and advantages of the invention wil bereadily understood vwithout requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be vmade within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to secure and claim by Letters-Patent, is zy 1. A rubber tread having an o iencenter met'al siil'ening plate embedded therein and provided with recesses in its rear side, and upright strips of anti-slipping fabric in the rear portion of the heel, embedded therein, disposed longitudinally thereof and radially with reference to each other, on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the heel, and angular-ly with reference to the'stiil'ening plate, said strips extending from polnts with- 1n to points without the stiil'cnmg plate 1n planes which intersect the recessed portions thereof, and also extending to and exposed at the lower surface of the rubber heel, substantial ly as described.

2. A rubber heel having strips of fabric embedded therein, disposed in an upright position vand lengthwise thereof, and having their lower edges exposed at the bottom of the heel, substantially as'described.

3. A rubber heel having strips of antislipping fabric embedded therein and disposed in an upright position and lengthwise thereof, and angu arly with reference to each other', substantially as4 described.

-4;-A rubber heeihaving rearwardly di- Verging-strips of antislipping fabric embedded th'ercin,disposed in an upright position 'and longitudinally with respect to the -heel,`substzu1tially as described.

5. Af rubber treadhaving arecess in its lower side :md provided with strips of zmt- In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set shppmg lzlbrle embedded m 'the heel, dlsmy hand m presence of two Subsorlbmg Wltposed 111 am uprlght posltlon :md lengthwlse messes.

thereof, said strips having their lower edges VVENDELL E. HERBST. 5 exposed :Lt the bottom of the heel and at the vWitnesses:

rear side :md bottom of the recess, substzm- B. M. LEVEL,

tially as described. HENRY F. SMITH. 

